Nagpur: A battery of BJP leaders charged with the issue of statehood to Vidarbha attended a closed door meeting in Nagpur with State Advocate General Shrihari Aney who has been in eye of the storm for his pro Vidarbha comments recently. Interestingly, no senior BJP leader was present in the meet. Sources informed that senior BJP leaders were not invited in the meet.The meeting is being seen as quite provocative in the local party parleys as the keeping the senior BJP leaders out of this meeting bears the tell tale sign of forthcoming consequences upon the participating members.
Among the BJP leaders who participated in the meeting include MLA Sameer Meghe, Ashish Deshmukh, Pankaj Bhoyar, Charan Waghmare. Senior leaders Datta Meghe, Ranjeet Deshmukh also surprised the members with their presence.
Going back into the deeper past, it may be recalled that BJP had put up the proposal to accord statehood to Vidarbha in a National Executive meet held 20 years ago. Sources claimed that given the supportive past to the issue, BJP should now stand committed to its words, however the ‘extra patience’ of the senior party leaders over the said issue is beyond understanding. Meanwhile, a section of BJP leaders, allegedly from Vidarbha, has emerged at the forefront to support Vidarbha as state after the State Advocate General Aney aired his views. Sources said that the pressure building strategy of Vidarbha supported should not underestimated at this juncture.
Sources also did not rule out the possibility of fresh round of agitation to press the demand for separate Vidarbha. It is learnt that the supporters of Vidarbha would be meeting again in a fortnight’s time to decide future course of action.
Sources informed that many non-BJP members also attended the meeting upon the call given by Datta Meghe. These include advocate Anil Kilore, Madhukarrao Kimmatkar, Umesh Chaube, Sharad Patil, Chandkrakant Wankhede, Mukesh Samarth, Devendra Parekh, Sandesh Singalkar, Nitin Renge, Neeraj Khandewale and others.
Rajeev Ranjan Kushwaha ( rajeev.nagpurtoday@g
